SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Chris Gayle has come in for high praise for World Cup legend Clive Lloyd, who has compared the opener’s strength that of former West Indies batting supremo Sir Vivian Richards.
The left-handed Gayle wrote his name in the record books when he hammered a World Cup record 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra on Tuesday, as West Indies strolled to a 73-run victory.
“He has very good strength and he times the ball quite well. He’s a very strong boy,” said Lloyd, the current chairman of West Indies selectors.
“Viv was strong but this boy has got tremendous power and hits the ball a long way from pace or spin. Viv was just as good in the sense that he was strong too but I think Gayle has got exceptional strength.”
Gayle counted an incredible ten fours and 16 sixes in innings that required only 147 balls. The double century was also the fastest in ODIs and he posted 372 for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels (133 not out) – a record for any wicket in all ODIs. The innings came against a long run of low scores for Gayle. He entered the game with a single half-century in 20 months and an average of 14 during that period.
Lloyd, who lifted the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, said it had always only been a matter of time before Gayle struck form again.
“It was a terrific innings and we’ve come to expect such great innings from Chris Gayle. He’s done it in Twenty20s and now he’s done it in 50-overs,” Lloyd said.
“His body is not as strong as it used to be but if you can have somebody who is still not fully fit making 200 runs in a 50-over game, [I think we can be quite pleased].
“We’re quite happy he’s back to form and I hope he continues from here on in. Chris has been a tower of strength for us and when he wasn’t getting the scores people were calling [for his head] but my mother always said good cream comes to the top all the time.”
The knock was Gayle’s 22nd ODI hundred and it came in his 266th game. He averages 37.
Gayle also became only the second West Indies batsman to reach 9 000 runs in ODIs following former batting star Brian Lara.
